Kenyan president blames internal politics for two massacres

Kenya's president has accused opposition politicians of orchestrating two massacres. This comes despite the Somalia-based Al Shabaab terrorist group claiming responsibility for the attacks, in which more than 65 Kenyans have been killed. Uhuru Kenyatta says the group is not responsible, and he's also admitted local security agencies failed to report intelligence about the impending attacks.

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CHRIS UHLMANN: Kenya's president has accused opposition politicians of orchestrating two massacres.

In two nights more than 65 Kenyans have been killed.

The Somalia-based Al Shabaab terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Uhuru Kenyatta says the group is not responsible.

He's also admitted local security agencies failed to report intelligence about the impending attacks.

Africa correspondent Martin Cuddihy reports from Kenya.

MARTIN CUDDIHY: Orchestrated ethnic violence. That's how Kenya's president is describing the latest attacks in his country.

UHURU KENYATTA: Evidence indicates that local political networks were involved in the planning and execution of the heinous crime.

MARTIN CUDDIHY: There is a lot of confusion as to who is responsible for these attacks. Even before all the bodies had been found, authorities started blaming Al Shabaab.

The Somali-based terrorist organisation has even claimed responsibility for the massacres.

But Uhuru Kenyatta says this was not the work of Islamist extremists.

UHURU KENYATTA: The attack in Lamu was well planned, orchestrated and politically motivated ethnic violence with the intention of profiling and evicting them for political reasons. This therefore was not an Al Shabaab terrorist attack.

MARTIN CUDDIHY: Whoever is responsible, they carried out the attacks with deadly efficiency.

On Sunday night, two vehicles packed with gunmen entered the quiet coastal town of Mpeketoni.

They started killing people randomly, starting with a pub where patrons were watching the World Cup.

Residents there no longer feel safe.

MPEKETONI RESIDENT (translated): I am not comfortable. I think the attackers are just hiding within. I think they will be back and it is a matter of time; I am very scared.

MARTIN CUDDIHY: The following night, they attacked a small community not far from Mpeketoni. At least 15 people have been killed in Poromoko and villagers there say 12 women have been abducted.

But there are suggestions the violence could have been avoided. President Uhuru Kenyatta says there was intelligence indicating an imminent attack - but authorities did not act.

UHURU KENYATTA: This negligence and abdication of duty and responsibility is unacceptable. Accordingly, all concerned officers have been suspended and will be charged immediately in a court of law.

MARTIN CUDDIHY: They failed to stop more than 60 murders.

Now Muslim clerics in Kenya fear a repeat of the ethnic violence that plagued the country six years ago.

They are worried this latest round of attacks could spark sectarian violence and a repeat of 2007 when more than 1000 people were killed in tribal conflicts.